on earth day, looking back–and ahead

EARTH DAY HAS BEEN OBSERVED for 41 years as of today–since April 22, 1970–but long before this important mobilization of millions, other voices helped raise consciousness about our individual, and collective, responsibilities to our environment.

The Work Projects Administration, or WPA, was a jobs and public works program, not an environmental one, I know, but among its many projects were some that focused on water conservation and parklands. So a selection of its vintage posters (such as those above, from the Library of Congress collection, and in this popular slideshow) speak to me with contemporary-sounding messages, though they were created just before World War II.

“The current vogue for poisons has failed utterly to take into account these most fundamental considerations. As crude a weapon as the cave man’s club, it has been hurled against the fabric of life—a fabric on the one hand delicate and destructible, on the other miraculously tough and resilient—and capable of striking back in unexpected ways.”

To think about water each time I use it, not taking for granted that my well is deep or that I live in an area with relatively high rainfall. Remember what Rachel Carson said: The “fabric of life…” is “capable of striking back in unexpected ways.” I think in an era of climate change, we are face to face with that reality.

What’s on your commitment list today and going forward?

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I remember reading Rachel Carson’s book, “Silent Spring.” in 1970. Her ideas were seemingly so far from the center at that time in this area (a big vegetable growing region in Wisconsin), that it was look upon as equivalent to her writing a book on UFOs, bigfoot, or ghosts.

The first time I saw an eagle was when I was 12. I didn’t see another until I wa nearly 35. Now, in my 50s, I am happy to report there is a nesting pair in a large tree in a nearby park. I see them quite frequently in other areas of Wisconsin, as well.

We are installing rain barrels to harvest water from the sky to use in our gardens and yard. We live in a very wet area (less than 1/4 mile from a wide sandy river) but I think we need to do better with our water usage. I am also going to commit to purchasing products with the least packaging. It’s so annoying to buy a box of toothpaste and have to unwrap the plastic around the carboard box to get the tube of toothpaste out! Perhaps I should just make our own toothpaste? Not sure how that would go over in my house! :) And we must do better with our composting!

I found this year that I didn’t hear a peep about Earth Day. I remember when I was younger it was out there and people were talking about it. Do people have “eco-fatigue”? It does seem like every time you hear news about the environment it seems to be bad/getting worse. You would think this would make people more interested in making things better, but it doesn’t. It seems to annoy them and then they continue doing things that are wasteful. It gets discouraging after a while.

I’m glad to see that you have some goals this year, and some of your readers also seem committed to doing their small part. If we all do our bit, we can make a difference.

I’m working on reducing my waste, and reducing what I’m purchasing in general. I got a rain barrel that I’m going to hook up, and grow more of my own food. I’ll keep watching here for tips!

I’ve been recycling paper, plastics, glass, cans, cardboard for quite some time. Composting garden waste and kitchen waste in the summer has also been my mission. This year I found seeds at a garden store which weren’t GM and I will continue to patronize local farms and markets as much as possible. Sometimes I think all the problems children are experiencing (autism, for example) relates to the chickens, meat and produce they have been served. One of my daughters works for a brewery who is eco-friendly and always does something for Earth Day across their sale areas.

we are lucky enough to have a stream on our property. for years we wondered about channeling the water for garden use. my boyfriend came upon a website offering plans to build a simple ram-jet pump from pvc plumbing parts. watering our garden is an event – we call it the water taxi – once the pump fills our barrel, kenny follows me around the yard with it attached to a tractor as i water. good times!

Welcome, Lori. Nice to see you. The homemade ram-jet sounds like quite the contraption…I need it for uphill from the house, where the hoses just can’t really make it (too much uphill battle for the pump from 450 feet deep in the well to high above the backyard). If you leave on your tractor today, what month will you two get here? :)

Welcome, Karen. I could not agree more with all that you say. Thank you for jumping in. It is astonishing how much damage has been done in the name of “progress” — now how do we get to a point where there is balance? A big topic.

My husband is the recycling king of my communities both at our home and our office. It is utterly amazing at how we often have more recycling than actual garbage for pick up. I agree with Rae about issues of autism, childhood allergies, etc. being the products of our polluted and chemical world. The more aware we become of these things and the more proactive we are, the healthier we and our chldren will be. We need to all do our parts.

I know this post is from two years ago, but as Earth Day approaches again this year, I feel compelled to comment: It is so important to treat the Earth with kindness every day but a special day reminds folks. Thank you for bringing again to the fore.

Garden Chores

March 1, 2015

an if-and-when month

BEST MARCH GARDEN ADVICE: Make like a daffodil. Poke your head up and have a look around—but be prepared to abort the mission, perhaps several times, and even get snowed on. Be nimble, ready to act of and when the forces are willing, but be patient, too, especially up North. The March chores.

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March 9, 2015

when to start seed

WHEN TO START WHAT? My seed calculator tool will help time sowings properly, no matter where you live. Don’t rush. Stout, sturdy seedlings are better than older, leggy ones for transplanting. For perspective: I don’t start tomatoes here in Zone 5B until mid-April.

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March 11, 2015

water-garden care

MUCK OUT water gardens of fallen debris at the earliest opportunity, using a net. Watch for tadpoles and salamanders and egg masses in every heap. When the weather settles, remove floating de-icers, and get pumps and filters going, following all my spring water-garden tips.

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March 17, 2015

perennial cutbacks

I CUT DOWN faded ornamental grasses before they sprout anew, and leaves of earliest bloomers like epimediums, or things that emerge fast and would prevent easy cutback, like tall sedums. Cut back evergreen groundcovers that push new leaves soon, including epimedium, hellebores, European ginger.

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March 20, 2015

peas and spinach?

I SOW PEAS (these are some varieties I love) and spinach around mid-March outdoors, if the soil allows. Some gardeners say to do it when the peepers first peep. I hope I get them in no later than the end of the first week in April, so they don’t bump too hard into summer heat at harvest time.

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March 25, 2015

pruning, pruning

I’LL FINISH fruit-tree pruning (here’s how), and start on twig willows and dogwoods, and this month or next some clematis, most roses, buddleia, Hydrangea paniculata and more. My pruning FAQ is here. Remember that if you prune early bloomers such as lilacs now, you’ll have fewer spring flowers; maybe wait until just after bloom.